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Melissa Silverstein interviews Frozen River Talent

Feb 18, 2009 | No Comments | ByBirds Eye View

Our favourite blogger Melissa Silverstein, who runs the fantastic blog Women and Hollywood (“News and Commentary About Women and Hollywood from a Feminist Perspective“), recently got chatting with the talent behind oscar-nominated (Best Screenplay and Best Actress) Frozen River: first-time director Courtney Hunt and actress Melissa Leo.  Here is a taste of inspiration from both interviews:

Courtney Hunt, Director of Frozen River

Director Courtney Hunt

Director Courtney Hunt

Melissa Silverstein: Hi, Courtney, let’s get started. What made you write “Frozen River”?

Courtney Hunt: The story was based on a real situation that goes on at the border of New York State and Canada involving smugglers, and this Indian reservation and the St. Lawrence River, which, when it freezes, the smugglers drive across. Around 9/11, I heard that they were switching over to illegal immigrants, so I was interested in that story. And I wrote a short film about it in 2004, and then that led to the feature. Read the full story